We can learn a lot about a person if we know what types of things he or she talks about or comments on the most frequently. There are numerous topics with which Vladimir Putin is associated, including United Russia, Year, and terrorist. Most recently, Vladimir Putin has been quoted saying: “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.” in the article Will Mark Zuckerberg ‘Like’ This Column?.

Pyongyang's missile and nuclear program is a crude violation of UN Security Council resolutions, undermines the non-proliferation regime and creates a threat to the security of northeastern Asia. At the same time, it is clear that it is impossible to resolve the problem of the Korean peninsula only by sanctions and pressure.feedback

The escalation of military hysteria will not do any good. It may lead to a planetary catastrophe and a colossal casualty rate. There is no other way to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem but peacefully and diplomatically.feedback

Strictly speaking, the full parity does not mean 455 U.S. diplomats stationed in Moscow but minus 155 more. So, we reserve the right to make a decision regarding this number of U.S. diplomats in Moscow. We will not be doing it so far.feedback

As for our buildings and facilities, this is an unprecedented thing. This is a clear violation of Russia's property rights. Therefore, for a start, I will order the Foreign Ministry to go to court - and let's see just how efficient the much-praised U.S. judiciary is.feedback

We have supplies of 40,000 tonnes of oil and oil products to North Korea a quarter. I asked (Russian Energy Minister Alexander) Novak; 40,000 a quarter is zero. Not a single (Russian) energy major carries out supplies there.feedback

They say they will have to cut a lot of jobs – not just diplomats and technical staff, but also in the ancillary services, including drivers, janitors and cooks. I hope I won't be in trouble, but who knows.feedback

We have seen a lot of provocation – illegal diplomatic property seizure, illegal sanctions that contradicting W.T.O. norms. We practice restraint with this, but someday we'll have to answer to such hostility.feedback

As you know, we are exercising restraint and patience, but at some moment we'll have to retaliate. It's impossible to endlessly tolerate this boorishness towards our country. When will our response follow? What will it be? That will depend on the final version of the draft law which is now being debated in the U.S. Senate.feedback

In recent years the sphere of airspace has received significant state support. Our positions in military aircraft building and in the sphere of airspace are as strong as before. We are going to strengthen the potential of these industries.feedback

I believe it would not be entirely appropriate on my part to disclose details of my discussion with Mr Trump. He asked, I answered him. He asked pointed questions, I answered them. It seemed to me that he was satisfied with those answers.feedback

(Trump) asked a lot of questions on this subject. I, in as much as I was able, answered these questions. It seems to me that he took these (answers) on board and agreed with them, but in actual fact, it's best to ask him how he views this. He started to ask pointed questions, he was really interested in particular details. I, as much as I could, answered him in a fairly detailed way.feedback

I believe that we have established personal relations already. It seems to me that if we build our relations the way that our conversation went yesterday, then we all have grounds to believe that we can, at least in part, restore the level of cooperation that we need.feedback

As for relations on personal level, I believe we have established them. Trump's T.V. persona differs sharply from the real man. He is a very straightforward person, grasps precisely what his interlocutor says, quickly analyzes and responds to questions or new elements of the discussion.feedback

What is important is that we agreed that there should be no uncertainty in that sphere. We agreed with the U.S. president to create a working group and work jointly on how to ensure cyberspace security, how to ensure the fulfillment of international legal norms in that sphere and prevent meddling in internal affairs of Russia and the U.S. We believe that if we work that way, and I have no reason to doubt it, there will be no such allegations.feedback

I had a very long conversation with the president of the United States. Many issues had accumulated, including Ukraine, Syria and other problems, some bilateral issues. We again went back to counterterrorism and cyber security issues.feedback

Phone conversations are never enough definitely. If you want to have a positive outcome in bilaterals and be able to resolve most international policy issues, that will really need personal meetings.feedback

One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved, but rather has deteriorated. He is a very colourful person, talented, without any doubt. It is not our business to determine his merits, that is up to US voters, but he is the absolute leader in the presidential race.feedback

He is absolutely the leader in the presidential race. He wants to move to a different level of relations, to more solid, deeper relations with Russia and how can Russia not welcome that – we welcome that.feedback

I'm convinced that only open trade relations based on uniform norms and standards can stimulate growth of the global economy and support a progressive development of intergovernmental relations.feedback

And unilaterally imposed and politically motivated sanctions on investment, trade and, in particular, technology transfer become its covert form. In our opinion, such sanctions not only have no perspective, but they also contradict the G-20 principles for interacting in the interests of all countries of the world.feedback

We agreed to actively develop our mutual initiative based on Russia's step-by-step plan for a Korean settlement and Chinese ideas, at the same time freezing the nuclear capabilities of North Korea and large scale military exercises by the United States and South Korea.feedback

Stalin was a product of his time. You can demonize him all you want, or, on the other hand, talk about his contributions to victory over Nazism. But the excessive demonization of Stalin is just one way to attack the Soviet Union and Russia, to suggest that today's Russia carries the birthmarks of Stalinism. Everyone has one kind of birthmark or another. So what? Of course.feedback

I am not familiar in detail with the testimony given by former FBI director Comey. Again, he gave no evidence of this (Russian interference). And what about constant U.S. propaganda, constant U.S. support of America-oriented non-governmental organizations by giving them money directly? Isn't it an impact on our minds? Isn't it an attempt to influence how we should behave during election campaigns? This continues year after year.feedback

Turn a globe and point your finger anywhere, you will find American interests and interference there. It sounds and looks very weird when the chief of a security agency records his conversation with the commander in chief and then hands it over to media via his friend. What's the difference then between the FBI director and Mr. Snowden? In that case, he's more of a rights campaigner defending a certain position than the security agency chief.feedback

Now we know that another draft bill has appeared in the US Senate on toughening these sanctions. Why, by the way? Nothing extraordinary happened. What drove them to talk about these sanctions out of the blue? This is, of course, a sign of continued political infighting in the US.feedback

You care day and night for your children, grandchildren and your family. Even today, on International Women's Day, you are still caught up in your routine, working tirelessly, always on time. We often ask ourselves, how do they manage it all?feedback

What fingerprints or hoof-prints or horn-prints, what are you talking about? IP addresses? They can be invented, you know? There are a lot of specialists who can even make it so it comes from your home IP address, as if your 3-year-old daughter carried out the attack.feedback

Right now, I think we have representatives from a hundred American companies that have come to Russia. Do you think we're gathering compromising information on all of them right now or something? Have you all lost your senses over there?feedback

If this theory is correct and that can't be ruled out, then what could be easier, in this day and age, than using all the technical means at the disposal of the intelligence services, and using those means to organize some attacks and then pointing the finger at Russia.feedback

I never met with him. We have a lot of Americans who visit us. Do you think we're gathering compromising information on all of them right now or something? Are you all – have you all lost your senses over there? Had there been anything significant he would have reported it to the minister. The minister would have reported it to me. There weren't even any reports. There's nothing to even talk about. There wasn't even any kind of specific discussion about sanctions or anything else. For me, this is just amazing. You created a sensation out of nothing. They have been misled.feedback

Put your finger anywhere on a map of the world, and everywhere you will hear complaints that American officials are interfering in internal electoral processes. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. But, I repeat, we don't even have to do that. Presidents come and go, and even the parties in power change, but the main political direction does not change. It wouldn't make sense for us to interfere. Well, this is just another load of nonsense. Where would we get this information from?feedback

This destroys the strategic balance in the world. What is happening is a very serious and alarming process. In Alaska, and now in South Korea, elements of the anti-missile defense system are emerging. Should we just stand idly by and watch this? Of course not. We are thinking about how to respond to these challenges. This is a challenge for us.feedback

In all honesty, I myself sometimes thought that the guy was going too far, but it turned out he was right: he found an approach to those groups of the population and those groups of voters he counted on, and they came and voted for him.feedback

It reminds me of antisemitism - the Jews are to blame for everything. You know, if a moron can't do anything for himself - the Jews are to blame. But we know what such sentiments lead to - it doesn't end in anything good.feedback

You shouldn't make a noise about this, but should create the conditions for joint work. If such a major emitter as the US is not going to cooperate entirely then it won't be possible to agree any deal in this area. In my view it was possible (for the US) not to leave the Paris agreement because it is a framework deal, and it was possible to change the US obligations inside the framework of these agreements. But what has been said has been said. And we need to think what to do further.feedback

Don't worry… be happy. This accord has not yet come into effect; it is supposed to come into effect as of 2021… so we still have time. If we are all constructive in what we do, there are things that we can agree on.feedback

Snowden is not a traitor. He did not betray the interests of his country, nor did he transfer any information to any other country that would damage his own people. He shouldn't have done it (leaked secrets). My view is that what he did was wrong. Trying to spy on your allies, if you really consider them allies and not vassals, is just indecent. It undermines trust, and in the end damages your own national security.feedback

It's an attempt to solve internal political problems using foreign policy instruments. It's harmful, hurting international relations, the global economy, security and the fight against terror. It's time to stop that useless and harmful chatter.feedback

We are absolutely convinced that it was a provocation. Assad didn't use the weapons. It was done by people who wanted to blame him for that. Thank God, they were smart enough not to do that after we released information about it. Modern control equipment would have shown that chemical weapons had been on that particular plane or site in the base. No one wanted. There was a lot of talk, but zero action. Has Assad made mistakes? Yes, quite a few. And what about people confronting him? Are they angels? Who are they who kill people there, execute children? Are they people who we should support?feedback

Hackers are free people like artists. If artists get up in the morning feeling good, all they do all day is paint. The same goes for hackers. They got up today and read that something is going on internationally. If they are feeling patriotic they will start contributing, as they believe, to the justified fight against those speaking ill of Russia. Is that possible? In theory, yes.feedback

We are patient, we know how to wait and we will wait. We never engaged in that on a state level, and have no intention of doing so. We are concerned about our security. We are thinking about ways to neutralize possible threats at long distance.feedback

I can imagine that some do it deliberately, staging a chain of attacks in such a way as to cast Russia as the origin of such an attack. Modern technologies allow that to be done quite easily. It's having an impact, and I'm afraid this is one of the goals of those who organize it are pursuing and they can fine-tune the public sentiments to their liking trying to establish an atmosphere that is going to prevent us from addressing common issues, say with regard to terrorism. We never engaged in that on a state level, and have no intention of doing so.feedback

It would have been very strange on our part to refuse to have a meeting with a leading political figure in Europe who wishes to develop good relations with Russia. It doesn't mean we tried to influence the result of the French presidential election–this is impossible.feedback

You have asked how sanctions against Russia will help in the resolution of the crisis in Ukraine's southeast. They will not. So I appeal to you as well as to the representatives of French media – you should fight for the lifting of all restrictions in the global economy.feedback

We are ready to receive any person, always. If Madame Le Pen asked to meet us, why would we want to refuse her? .. The more so since she always publicly spoke out for developing relations with our country. It would be strange for us to refuse her.feedback

I spoke to (Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov) today. I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us. Not with me, nor with representatives of Russia's intelligence services. It was very bad of him.feedback

These people either don't understand that they are hurting their own country, and in that case they are just dumb. Or they do understand everything, and that means that they are dangerous and unscrupulous.feedback

What surprises me is that they are shaking up the domestic political situation using anti-Russian slogans. Either they don't understand the damage they're doing to their own country, in which case they are simply stupid, or they understand everything, in which case they are dangerous and corrupt.feedback

This tragedy is additional proof of the barbaric nature of terrorism that is posing a challenge to human civilization. It is obvious that to counter this evil effectively the entire international community needs to truly join efforts. I would like to confirm the readiness of the Russian side to closely cooperate with our French partners in investigating the crime committed in Paris.feedback

Russia knows terrorism and the threat it creates for us all. Our people have had to deal with similar tragedies many times, and we are deeply distressed at the news. We would like to express our sympathy and solidarity with the French nation. … I would like to stress again that only through a united effort can we defeat terrorism.feedback

We need to return to dialogue with North Korea and stop scaring it and find ways to resolve these problems peacefully. If you recall, there was a time when North Korea announced it was suspending this kind of (nuclear) program, but unfortunately certain participants in the negotiations process did not have enough patience. I think we need to return to this. This missile launch presented no threat to us, but it of course escalates this conflict and there is nothing good about that.feedback

I want to confirm that we are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear powers, including with the Korean Peninsula and North Korea. But at the same time, we understand that what we have observed in the world recently, and specifically flagrant violations of international law and incursions into the territory of foreign states, changes in regime, lead to such kinds of arms races. In this connection, we need to act in a joined-up way, (and) strengthen the system of international guarantees with the help of international law and with the help of the U.N. Charter.feedback

The Palestine-Israel conflict can only be a political, negotiation-based solution based on international rights. I would like to underline that the peaceful coexistence of two states of Palestine and Israel is the indispensable condition to provide true security and stability in the Middle East.feedback

No force will be able to dominate our people. I congratulate you on Victory Day, when greatness is defined by the people, by their unprecedented heroic deed – the salvation of the Fatherland and heroic, decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism.feedback

This monstrous tragedy was not able to be prevented primarily because of the connivance of the criminal ideology of racial superiority and due to the lack of unity among the world's leading nations. To effectively combat terrorism, extremism, neo-Nazism and other threats, consolidation of the entire international community is necessary. We feel a piercing blood relationship with a generation of heroes and victors.feedback

Your question looks very funny for me. Don't be angry with me. We have nothing to do with that. President Trump is acting in accordance with his competence, in accordance with his law and Constitution. What about us? Why we?feedback

The citizens of France have entrusted you to lead the country in a period that is difficult for Europe and for all of world society. The growing threat of terrorism and militant extremism is accompanied by an escalation of local conflicts and the destabilization of entire regions.feedback

Of course, I will have a talk with the general prosecutor and interior minister so they support you on the topic that you have raised on information or rumours, we might say, about what is happening to sexual minorities in the North Caucasus.feedback

Russia is ready for an open and consistent participation in work to establish an accomplished global anti-doping system. Once again, I would like to reiterate something that we have always stated: Russia never had, and I hope never will have, a state-backed system of doping support. On the contrary - we will fight doping.feedback

I believe that positive processes which we have started, to reform anti-doping structures, are irreversible. We must listen to what WADA has to say, because we have to admit that we have several cases of proven doping violation. This is unacceptable. We will do everything to organize efficient and fruitful work with all our partners, including WADA and the IOC. I hope they have the same intentions.feedback

Apart from the capital of our country, we have a number of cities which could potentially host Summer Olympics. There is Sochi, of course, but also St. Petersburg and possibly Kazan. We are not going to make any specific statements, yet. In 2014, our country successfully hosted the Winter Games in Sochi. However, I do not rule out the possibility that Russia will decide to enter in bidding process for the right to host another Olympics.feedback

Regarding Los Angeles, it is not for us to estimate the city's chances. This must be done by the IOC. USA is one of the leading sports countries in the world, and I believe had good chance of getting the honor of hosting the games. It is well known that LA hosted the games in 1984 and the USSR team unfortunately did not participate - just like the U.S. team which did not come to Moscow in 1980. No-one benefited from this.feedback

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and I adhere to the viewpoint the Syrian conflict can be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic means. As for the flights over de-escalation zones – combat aviation will not be operating there on condition that no military activity is registered in such zones. One of the means of enhancing the ceasefire is to create zones of security and de-escalation. We heard the US president say so in one of his statements. In particular, departmental consultations on anti-terrorist operations will continue to be held on a regular basis.feedback

Some time ago our bilateral ties, as it well known, were tested. Now we can say with certainty remark that the recovery process in Russo-Turkish ties is complete. We are getting back to a normal cooperative partnership.feedback

We all take the view that we need to... create mechanisms that would guarantee a cessation of bloodshed and create the conditions for the start of a political dialogue. In this respect our position and that of the Turkish president totally coincide.feedback

We never interfere in the political life and the political processes of other countries and we don't want anybody interfering in our political life and foreign policy processes. Certainly, without the participation of such a party as the United States, it is also impossible to solve these problems effectively. So we are and will continue to be in contact with our American partners, and I hope that we will attain understanding there regarding joint steps in this very important and sensitive area of international relations today.feedback

We have not seen a single fact, or even a hint of facts. I do not know who saw them. No one showed us anything, no one said anything, although we repeatedly asked to produce the details on which these unfounded accusations lie.feedback

I've said that this U.S. strike reminds me strongly of events in Iraq in 2003, when U.S. representatives in the UN Security Council showed alleged chemical weapons found in Iraq. A military campaign was launched in Iraq after this and it resulted in the destruction of the country, in the growth of the terrorist threat and the emergence of Islamic State on the international arena.feedback

It reminds me of events in 2003 when representatives of the US showed in the Security Council the so-called chemical weapons, found in Iraq. After that the campaign in Iraq began and resulted in destruction of the country, and increase of terrorist threat.feedback

We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using (chemical weapons).feedback

We see that, unfortunately, the situation is not improving. The recent tragic events in St. Petersburg are the best confirmation of this. We know that each of our countries, practically every one, is a possible and potential target of terrorist attacks.feedback

I would like to express the words of sincerest condolences to relatives of the killed and wounded. I have already spoken with the chiefs of special services, FSB director, law enforcement bodies and special services are working. We will do everything to identify the reasons for what happened.feedback

I have already talked to the chiefs of special services, the [Federal Security Service] director. The law enforcement agencies and special services are working, and they will do everything to find out the causes of the incident and make a full assessment of what has happened.feedback

We feel that our US partners are interested in developing this cooperation and this is a very good signal. We hope that this (cooperation) will spread to other world regions, including the Arctic,'' the president said.feedback

The President is barred from implementing his agenda on health-care or international affairs, relations with Russia and we will wait till things stabilise. At a certain point of time it will come to a close and we will decide when and where the meeting is held.feedback

Our moves are of a local nature and their moves are of (a) global nature. They've been developing their missile defense system there, building it up, and this system is one of the overarching concerns of global security today. It's not a defense system, no, it's part of the nuclear forces of theirs, installed in the periphery. It's not on the defensive, it helps minimize our response. We have no intention of starting a war in the Arctic. We don't want to compete with the U.S.: We all know that the U.S. spends more on defense than the rest of the world.feedback

Only by pooling efforts can we efficiently combat terrorism. I hope that we will eventually come to constructive cooperation. There are many issues which long have come to a head in the economic and security fields and regarding regional conflicts. We are ready for that discussion. It's necessary for the other side to also show goodwill and readiness for constructive work.feedback

Isn't it nonsense? What is the ambassador there for? He's there to speak to people, to maintain contacts with the political elite, with businessmen, with members of the House and the Senate, with administration officials. They are now also taking up the issue of the meetings our businessmen and bankers had there. Don't American businessmen come here and speak to our representatives, including Russian government officials? Otherwise how can they work? Of course they do. We aren't obstructing it, just the opposite, we are helping it.feedback

Read my lips: No. We are seeing what's going on. They are preventing the new president from fulfilling his campaign promises on many issues: health care, other issues, international relations, ties with Russia. We are waiting for the situation to normalize and become more stable. And we aren't interfering in any way. This anti-Russian card is being played in the interests of some political forces inside the United States with an aim to strengthen and consolidate their positions.feedback

I don't think it's in the interests of the majority of the American people to bring the U.S.-Russian relations to absurdity for the sake of domestic politics. Do we want to completely cut diplomatic relations? Do we want to bring the situation to what it was in the 1960s during the Cuban (missile) crisis? Where do people behaving in such an irresponsible way want to take us all, including the American people. We aren't obstructing it, just opposite, we are helping it. Only by pooling efforts can we efficiently combat terrorism. I hope that we will eventually come to constructive cooperation.feedback

Leading Russian companies have achieved a series of important agreements about developing large oil and gas fields in Iran. Our countries cooperate in the framework of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). We will coordinate our efforts to stabilize world oil markets.feedback

We're not trying to influence events. We are trying to maintain relations with the ruling authorities and opposition representatives too. We don't want to influence in any way the events underway.feedback

Of course I know that the election campaign in France is actively developing. We do not want to influence events in any way, but we reserve the right to talk to representatives of all the country's political forces.feedback

I've already said that this is the result of treason, and traitors meet their end the same way they got their start, either by drinking themselves to death, or by using drugs, lying in a ditch. One of them recently met his end about the same way. These are officers, you understand? Someone betrayed his friends, his comrades in arms, people who put their lives on the altar of the fatherland. And then you get some animal who is willing to betrays people like this. How will he look into his children's eyes after this? Pig!feedback

Some pro-Russian people might use the mistreatment of Latgale as a hook, you know? As an excuse. If Russia came and tried to invade Latgale I think there would be people who would welcome them. We can't really rely on NATO, we can't really rely on anybody else, just ourselves.feedback

The candidate Hillary Clinton was quite negative – declaring Russia the main evil, the main threat. Whom would you like better – the one that says Russia is evil? Or the one that says yes we disagree, but let's find points of agreement. We don't have a proper understanding of the future. We certainly would expect our contacts to be more frequent, more in depth, because we had quite a significant pause.feedback

Russia has always been very firm against all forms of terrorism, whatever the guiding principle of that terrorism, whatever ideas are being championed by the people behind that terrorism. That is our fundamental position and it won't change, under any circumstances.feedback

We need to listen to WADA's demands. Because we must admit that we do have proven cases of athletes doping. It's absolutely unacceptable and it means that the doping control system that was in place didn't work. And this is our fault.feedback

I think it's absolutely inappropriate now towards the Syrian government, using sanctions. Because it doesn't help, it wouldn't help the negotiation process but would only hinder it, and would undermine trust in the negotiation process. Russia won't support any new sanctions against Syria.feedback

What about Ljubljana, Slovenia? Of course, it is a great place to hold a dialogue of this kind. But it doesn't depend only on us, it also depends on a range of things, current issues. If these meetings ever happen, then I have nothing against Ljubljana.feedback

As regards Ljubljana, Slovenia in general, it is of course a brilliant place to have a dialogue of such a sort. But it doesn't depend only on us, it depends on a whole series of circumstances. If these meetings ever happen, we don't have anything against Ljubljana.feedback

It depends not only on us, but we are naturally ready for it. We always welcomed that and we hope that relations will be restored in full in all areas. It relates to trade and economic ties, security issues and various regions of the world, which are suffering from numerous conflicts. By pooling our efforts, we naturally would be able to significantly contribute to solving those issues, including the fight against international terrorism.feedback

Doctors who work at the TSKB (Central Clinical Hospital) believe that the level of professional training, the financing, the equipment, don't meet modern standards. A lot needs to be reformed there.feedback

Trump arrives and straight away rushes to meet with Moscow prostitutes. This is an adult man first of all and, apart from that, is a man who for many years took part in organising beauty contests.feedback

People who order such fakes, fabricate them and use them in a political struggle are worse than prostitutes. They have no moral limits whatsoever. By the way, Russia deals with such people all the time, with our opponents. I find it difficult to believe that he ran to a hotel to meet with our girls of reduced social responsibility. Although here we do have the best ones in the world.feedback

People who are doing that are inflicting colossal damage to the interests of the United States. How can you do anything to improve U.S.-Russian relations when they launch such canards as hackers' interference in the election?feedback